Weather strip



Dec.29,1936. FREE-SE "2,066,188

WEATHER STRIP Filed Aug. 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In I.

Frank Rees F. REESE- WEATHER STRIP Filed Aug. 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet w 8 8 Qm Ki 3.... an H H mm 3 R R no Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES S ATET OFFICE WEATHER STRIP Application August 17, 1935, Serial No. 36,?13

7 Claims.

My invention relates to weather strips and particularly to the type of weather strip applicable to the lower marginal portion of a door for obstructing the space between the door and the surface of the floor or threshold over which the door closes.

An object of my invention is to improve the type of weather strip employing a retractable member carried by a leaf or similar spring of sufiicient inherent resiliency to lift said member after being bowed by the transmission thereto of endwise pressure for depressing said member.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a weather strip having a housing and a retractable member movable therefrom into engagement with the floor or retractable into the housing and in providing said retractable memberyvith sealing means adapted to engage both the 1166mm housing when in operation to prevent leakage of air past the same.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a weather strip in which the sealing means comprises two separate sealing strips, one for engagement with the floor and the other for engagement with the housing.

A feature of the invention resides in utilizing a frame, H-shaped in cross-section, for carrying said sealing strips.

Another, object of the invention resides in providing a resilient suspension tape for the retractable member which is relatively limp to facilitate the bowing thereof by pressure exerted endwise against the same, but which, at the same time, is sufficiently stiff to insure the depressionof said member into position snugly contacting the floor, a further object being to provide separate means for tensioning the tape to lift the retractable member into sheathed position within the housing.

A still further object of the invention resides in using a compression coil spring for the purpose of tensioning the tape.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a plunger connected to the end of the tape and in providing a guide on said housing for guiding the plunger for sliding movement in the direction of the length of the tape.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a head threaded upon the end of the plunger and in arranging said spring to encircle said plunger with the ends thereof seated against said head and guide.

"Another object 'of the invention resides in attachingithetape to theretractable member in A feature of the invention resides in the .con- 5 struction used in the formation of the guides for the sliding end of the tape.

Other objects of the. invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter 10 illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a weather. strip illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a portion of a door and door frame showing the application of my invention thereto.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevational sectional view taken through the lowermost marginal portion of the door and through the weather strip and illustrating the retractable member in operative extended position.

Fig. 4 is a view similarto Fig. 3 showing the retractable member partly raised.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the 5 retractable member completely raised and retracted within the housing.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 6 taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an alternate form of frame construction for the sealing strips.

In the drawings, an ordinary door, fragmentarily illustrated, is indicated by the reference numeral [0. The hinged edge of said door is designated by the numeral 84 and the lower edge at the lowermost portion M of the door is designated by the numeral 86. This door is mounted to swing in a door frame H which is constructed with a vertical frame member I2 to which said door 10 is hinged by the usual hinges.

The door swings over the floor E3, the lower edge thereof being clear of the floor, leaving includes a housing l9 and a retractable sealing memberor drop 2| adapted to be sheathed withbe projected from said housing to engage the surface of the floor l3 and close the space l5 between door and floor.

The housing I9 is constructed from sheet metal and is U-shaped in cross section. It is formed with two spaced parallel side walls 22 and-23.

and a wall or web 24 connecting the upper edges of the walls 22 and 23. Thus constructed, the housing l9 has an opening, as at 20, along the bottom thereof, the retractable member 2| being movable into or out of thehousing through said opening to serve its purpose. Turned outwardly from the lowermost edges of the walls 22 and 23 are flanges 25 and 26. These flanges have holes 88 formed therein through which nails may be driven into the lower edge of the door to secure the weather strip in place. The end of housing l9'nearest the hinged edge of the door is indicated by the reference numeral 68, while the other end is indicated by the reference numeral 59. z

The retractable member or drop 2| is constructed with an H-shaped frame\2| formed of two channel shaped frame members 28 and 29 arranged back to back and secured together by weldin g, rivets or otherwise. The, channel shaped frame member 28 includes flanges 3| and 32 anda web 33,..the frame member 29 being similarly constructed with flanges 34 and 35 and a web 36. The webs 33 and'36 are disposed back to back, the one being attached to the other,

as described. Within the channel frame member.

28 is disposed a sealing strip 31 constructedof feltor other similar suitable sealing material which is snugly received between the two flanges 3| and 32 and which is' clamped in place between said flanges. To assist in holding said sealing strip in position the flanges 3| and 32 preferably converge, as illustrated. The sealing strip 31 is constructed of materialsuch that the exposed portion 38 thereof brooms outwardly sufficiently so that when the retractable member is disposed'within the housing |9, portion 38 engages the inner surfaces of the two walls 22 and portion 4| which engages the'surface of the floor l3 when the retractable sealing member is inextended position, as shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 1. The end of the retractable member 2| nearest the hinged 'ed geof thecloor is designated by the reference numeral 51 and its other end by the reference numeral 58.

Instead of forming the H-shaped frame 21 of the sealing member 2| by bringing two channels together back to back, I contemplate forming a one-piece frame by the extrusion of metal suitable for the purpose; such a frame being illustrated in Fig. 8 f the'drawings as an alternate construction. In said'Fig'. 8, an upper sealing strip 3! is shown as being clamped between flanges 3|, 32' and a-sealing strip 39' as being clamped between flanges 34', 35', which flanges together with the bar xcomprise a one-piece frame 28'.

The retractable member 2| is suspended by T means, of a flexible tape42 which-operates to lift and depress said member and thereby draw it up into the housing and project it from said housing. This tape, preferably of thin resilient metal, is comparatively limp in order that it may be easily bowed upon the application of pressure thereto endwise thereof, but has sufficient stifiness so that, upon being bowed, it will insure the depression of said member 2| and cause it snugly to engage the floor. Said tape 42 is attached at one end 43 to the upper surface of the wall 24 of the housing l9, two tongues 44 being struck .out' of the material of the said wall to form an opening 45 through which the tape is passed from the inside to the outside of the housing.

Said end 43 of said tape is secured by means of a rivet 45 to a portion of the wall 24 adjoining said opening 45. This tape freely clears the walls 22 and 23 at its edges and the tongues 44 hold said tape down against the housing wall 24 between the rivet 46 and the opening 45 in along the wall 24, the portion 53'o'f the tape 423s guided by said tongues 48, 49 and 5| for movement in the direction of the lengthpf the tape. The openings 45 and 58 in the housing Wall 24' are located at opposite sides of the middle .ofthe housing [9 'so that the tape42, when b'owed within the housing, will bow approximately medially of said housing.

The retractable member or drop2| is attached to the tape 42 in the following manner: A'clip 55 constructed from a strip of sheet'metaJ'is-bent 4O into the form illustrated in Fig. 6, the same having a leg 56 which isdisposed uponthe iriteri'or of the channel member 28 of frame'2l and weld l ed to the flange 3| of said member. The head 59 of the clip-55 is U-shaped and comprises two spaced arms GI and 52 betweenwhich the tape '42 is received. This head portion ofs aid ,clipis readily hooked over the'tape orunh'ooked therefrom when said tape 'is bowed -sufll'c'leritlyto ex tend beyond the bottom ofthe housing I91" with said head hooked upon 'the'tape," it isso held, by reason of the engagement of the portion 3813f sealing strip 31 withthe wall 23 of hoi'lSing' lQ, as long as said tape is not abnormally bowed and thereby extended at its bowed portion beyond the lower edge of said housing. "Theclip 'is secured to the member 21 at a point at one side of the middle thereof, such'p'oirit being farthest from the hinged edge of the doorso that theend 51 of said member at said edge of said door'w'i ll 60 first drop to the floor when the tape is bowed.

and will be lifted last when said tape is drawn taut For the purpose of operating the retractable member 2|, an operating device employed as which is indicated in its entiretyb'y'the reference numeral 53.

movement in a guide 61 secured to the wall 24' of housing H! at the end68 of saidhou'sin gmear est the hinged edge 84 of'the door. The extremity H of the portion53 of tape 42=is"bentoutwardly V and formed with an-opening toreceive theshenk 75;

The portion 530i 25 This operating device comprises a' plunger 64 preferably rectangular in cross sectio'n which, at its ends, has reduced threaded shanks 65 and '66. The plunger 641s guided for 66 of plunger 64. Binding nuts I2 and I3 screwed upon the shank 66 secure the tape 42 to the plunger 64.

Threaded upon the shank 65 of the plunger 64 is a cylindrical head I4 which extends outwardly from the said plunger and beyond the end of the housing I 9, where it may engage the frame member I2 of door frame II and operate the device, as will be presently described in detail.

A compression coil spring 15 encircles the plunger 64 and is seated at one end against the guide 61 and at its other end against a washer 16 encircling the shank 65 and backed by the head I4. This compression coil spring I5 urges the plunger 64 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3. This has the effect of tensioning the tape 42, and thereby drawing the retractable member 2| upwardly into housing Hi. It can readily be comprehended that where the inherent resiliency of an arched leaf spring is depended upon to lift the retractable member, such spring, even though comparatively powerful, would. have practically no force to elevate and sustain said member with the bow in the spring substantially diminished. By the use of the coil spring I5, considerable force can be exerted at all times through the relatively limp tape 42, so that the retractable member is firmly held in retracted position. And, too, it will readily be comprehended that the bowing of the relatively limp tape 42 can be initiated, whenthe tape is substantially straight, and continued, with a minimum force applied to the end of said tape.

For the purpose of supporting the plunger 64 at the end thereof carrying the head 14 and for closing the end of the groove in the door in which the device is mounted, an end plate TI is employed, the same being attached to the housing I 9."I'l i1s-end plate is notched, as at 18, to receive the end of the housing, and attaching flanges I9, turned inwardly from the plate 11, are riveted or spot welded to the walls 22 and 23 of said housing. This end plate 11 extends above the housing I9 and is formed at its upper portion with a boss 80, said boss being provided with an opening 8| in which the head I4 is guided for reciprocating movement. Head 14 is constructed with a screw driver slot 82 by means of which it is turned on the threaded shank 65 for purposes of adjustment.

In preparing a door for the installation of my improved device, a hole 83 is first bored into the door from the edge 84, such that the hole will accommodate the plunger 64, the plunger guide 61 and the various parts attached to the plunger. After the hole 83 is bored, the lower edge 86 of the door is formed with a groove 85 of a width sufi'icient snugly to receive the housing l9 and of a depth slightly greater than the depth of the housing proper. This groove 85 intersects the hole 83 and the material of the door where the hole and groove intersect is cut away, the cross sectional shape of the recess formed thereby being shown in Fig. '7. The weather strip in its assembled form is next inserted into the groove 85, the flanges 25 and 26 taking position against the lower edge 86 of the door, with the plate 11 against the edge 84 of said door. Nails 81 are next driven through the holes 88 in the flanges 25 and 26 and into the door to hold the structure in position.

When the door Ill is shut, the outer extremity 89 of the plunger head I4 abuts against the frame member I2 of the door frame II, as shown in Fig. 3. With the head I4 properly adjusted upon the shank 65 of plunger 64, the tape 42 V will be bowed so as to hold the retractable member 2| in depressed position snugly engaged with the surface of the fioor. The space I6 between the door and floor is thus effectively obstructed,

the strip 39 providing a seal between the member 2| and the floor and the strip 31 providing aedge of the door clears the floor, the inner end 51 of said member 2| is lifted. When the door is opened far enough so that the head 14 is fully extended and clear of the door frame member I2, the spring i5 will have pulled the tape 42 taut, thereby sheathing the retractable member 2| within the housing, as shown in Fig. 5. During the continued opening movement of the door and during the return closing movement thereof up to the final stage, the member 2| remains sheathed within the housing I9 where it is entirely clear of the floor, rugs or carpet over which the door swings. During the said final stage in the closing movement of the door, the head 14 engages the member. l2 of the door frame II and causes the plunger 64 to be shifted inwardly against the action of the spring I5. This movement of the plunger slackens and bows the tape 42 within the housing 89, causing the member 2| to be projected from the housing, the inner end 57 thereof first. The tape 42, due to its relatively limp character, is readily bowed so that the force necessarily exerted against the plunger 64 need be but little more than enough to compress the coiled' spring 15.

The application of my improved weather strip to any ordinary dcoris very easily accomplished and, once installed, the device will function indefinitely without attention. It operates smoothly and reliably at all times, the tape being easily bowed to depress the retractable member Bland readily tightened by the coiled spring 15 to elevate and sheath said member 2| with positiveness of action. By means of the two sealing strips, all leakage of air is eliminated.

Changes in the specific form of myinvention,

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a door frame and a door hinged at one side thereof to said frame and having a groove in its lower edge enlarged in depth at the hinged edge of said door, of a weather strip within said groove for closing the space between the fioor and the closed door, said weather strip comprising a housing having side walls and an upper connecting wall formed with an opening therein, a sealing drop within the housing movable into projected and retracted p0 sitions relative thereto, a resilient suspension tape extending through said opening in said upper housing wall and contained partly within and partly without the housing, that portion of in said door, said plunger being connected with said tape and substantially aligned therewith and adapted to cooperate with the door frame, upon the closing of the door, to bow the tape within the housing and lower said drop, said tape being adapted to bepreadily bowed, it being relatively limp and insufiiciently resilient alone to elevate the closed door, said weather strip comprising ahousing having side walls and anupper connecting wall formed with an opening therein, a sealing drop within the housing movable into projected and retracted positions relative thereto, a-

resilient suspension tape extending through said opening in said upper housing wall and contained partly within and partly without saidhousing, that portion of the tape within the hous ing being connected at its end to said housing and at another point to said drop, a plunger mounted on the connecting wall of the housing at the outside thereof, the plunger being substantially aligned with said tape and connected with the; portion thereof outside of the housing, said plunger being adapted to cooperate with the door frame, upon the closing of the door, to bow that 7 portion of the tape within the housing and lower" said drop, said tape being relatively limpiand readily b'owed yet sufficiently stifh when bowed, to press the drop snugly against the fioonand a spring acting upon the plunger and causing it to draw the tape taut and lift said drop, upon the 40' opening of the door;

, 3. The combination with a door frame and a door hinged at one side thereof to said frame, of.

a. weather strip at the lower marginal portionl o'f said door for closing the space between the floor and the closed door, said weather strip comprising a drop, a guide-therefor, said drop being movable into projectedand retracted positions relative to said guide, a-resilient suspension tapeex tending along said drop, one end ofsaid tape being fixed and the other end being free to move relative'to the door, said tape being connected between its ends to said-drop, means cooperating with the free end of the tape and with the door] frame to shift said free end of;said tape in the direction of its length to bow thetape' and lower said drop, said tape being adapted to be readily bowed, it being relatively limp and insufficiently resilient-alone to elevate said drop, but sufiicientlyresilient to press the drop snugly against the on floor when the tape is bowed, and means acting through said tape to draw the tape taut and lift said drop, upon the opening of the door.

:4. The combination with a door frame and a door hinged at one side thereof to said frame, of a 5-weather strip at the'lower marginal portion of said door for closing the space between the floor and the closed door, said weather strip comprising a drop, 'a channel-like guide therefor having" sidewalls, said drop being movable into prolooted and retracted positions relative to said tracting the latter, a hanger depending. from said 5 member and secured to said frame, said upper strip being in brushing engagement with the ,side walls of the guide, such engagement being entirely unbroken in respect to one of said walls, the, lower sealing strip, in: the projectedpositionof 10; said drop, being adapted yieldingly'toengage the fi0Or..f" g

5'. The combination with a. doorframe and a door hinged at; one side thereof: to said frame, ofa weather strip at the lower-marginal portion 15? ofsaid door for-closingthe space between the, floor andthe closed-door, said weather strip com prising 'adrora-a guide therefor havingside walls, said dr'opbeing movable :into projected and retr'acted positions'relative to said guide, said drop 20'" comprising: upper and lower resilient sealing strips and aninte'rm'ediate bar-like frame common to 'said strips, said-upper sealing strip being com,- pressed between said side walls of said guide and in yielding brushing engagement therewith; 25 means for projecting the drop and thereby bring,- ing the: lower. sealing strip thereof into yielding engagement with the floor, andmeans for retract-z ing said drop.m

GUI-he combination witha' door frame and adoor hingedat one side thereof to said frame, of a weather'strip'atthe lower marginal portion of; said door for closing the space between the floor and the closed door, said weather strip comprisbar, a resilient sealing strip carried by--'said"bar ,s

at the loweredge thereof and a similar stripoaf ri'e'd by said bar at the upper' edge thereof, said.; latter strip maintaining contact at the sides thereofwith the side walls of the guide when the, drop is projected; means for projecting the drop and thereby bringing the lower sealing strip thereof into yielding engagement with the floor, and means for retracting said drop.

' 7. The combination with aframe and'a clos e, therefor movable relative thereto, of .a weather. strip carried by the closure'at a'marginalfportion; thereof forobstructing the space betweenqsuch portion ofsaid closure and the corresponding portion of'said frame, in the closed position of said closure j said weather strip comprising an elongatedsealing memberyaguide' therefor hail-l; ing an elongated side wall, said' sealing memberbeing-movable transversely 'of said wallinto pro jected and" retracted positions relative to. saidf guide, saidsealing member comprising a bar, and

a resilient'sealingstrip carried by said bar at its.

outer edge for engagement with/said frame, a

similar strip carried'by' said barat the inner edge thereof, said mage stri maintainin'g contactwith said sidewall or said guide when thoseaiing; member is projected, means for projecting the 1 sealingLmembe'rQJand Thereby bringing the oiling sealingstrip thereof into engagement with the frame, and means for retracting said sealing member.- v

. w FRANK REESE. [w 

